M (A) Overview of quarter; return materials
Read: Gibson, The Miracle Worker; reading and performing dramatic works
Write: Informational Essay (Student Learning Teams project)
Selected videos from Digital Storytelling Projects
HW: Independent Reading
Note: You may want to start gathering basic information about your independent reading books (author, title, characters' names, basic plot elements, other important information).
T (B) Show: Digital Stories
Discuss: Digital Storytelling Project
Appeteaser: What did you learn from this digital storytelling project? How did it surprise you? What difficulties did you face, and how did you overcome them?
HW: Type and print out the following information about your two independent reading books: author, title, characters' names, basic plot elements, other important information. Make a proposal for how you would like to share your comments and suggestions about your reading with an audience who could most benefit from it.
W (C) Introduction to Informational Essay
Appeteaser: What is the best way to share factual information so that others can benefit from it? What kinds of strategies should writers think about when they communicate information? What would make you want to read an essay that conveyed information of interest to you?
Show Digital Stories
Discuss appeteaser, informational essay (examples)
Discuss options for sharing independent reading (practice information informational essay)
Appeteaser: What changes, if any, should be made to the way we structure the student learning teams?
Show Digital Stories
Discuss appeteaser
HW: Prepare reports for Student Learning Teams
F (E) 5A: Student Learning Teams: Prepare and present quarterly report -- successes, struggles, research needs, timeline and plans for Q4; 5B: Wordskills, Unit 5
HW: Wordskills, Unit 5 (5A to begin; 5B to complete).
Week 2 (March 25-28)
Note: All students who are working on games for their SLT project should bring a board game to Ms. Davis's classroom before school on Monday. If you do not have a board game, bring "fun stuff" (art supplies, magazines, anything that might be used in a game) in a ziplock bag with your name on it. We will have a "game hacking" session on Monday during Study Hall.
M (F) 5A: Complete and review Wordskills, Unit 5; 5B: Student Learning Teams: Prepare and present quarterly report -- successes, struggles, research needs, timeline and plans for Q4.
Review options for Independent Reading Projects: Web page, newspaper article, discussion forum in Collaborize,
1. Design a Web Page: In Microsoft Word, you can design a web page for your book. Include: Author, title, main characters, brief plot synopsis, and any other pertinent information that will attract readers. Use at least one image (in addition to the book cover) and at least 50 words of text aside from the author and title. Use design elements to engage your reader, enhance your presentation and organize your information about the book.
2. Write an informative, objective newspaper article about the book. Aside from the title, text should be at least 50 words long, but may be substantially longer; the article should also include at least one photo or illustration, in addition to the book cover. Include in the article all of the important information about the book: author title, main characters, brief plot synopsis, and any other information you think is important for readers to know. Enhance your article by interviewing other readers or providing interesting back stories. Be sure to reference all resources appropriately.
3. Participate in a "book talk" discussion forum in Collaborize about the book. Use factual information from the book, including cited quotations, as well as cited resources from outside the book to enhance your discussion. Share at least one visual (with appropriate credit) to illustrate your understanding. Comment on responses by other readers of the book to continue the conversation. All discussions must be at least 50 words.
4. Choose one of the other suggested formats in order to demonstrate your understanding of how to communicate information to an audience. All options must include basic information about the book, images, and at least 50 words of text.
HW: Review format options for Independent Reading Projects. Goal/Requirements: Convey important information about your book in an organized, clear, concise, and engaging way; include both images and at least 50 words of text. Choose a format, make a plan, and gather materials for your project.
T (A) Begin work on project. Appeteaser: What do you need for your project to be successful? (In particular, think research.) What do you need to do in order to get started? (Keep in mind the goals of the project above.) 1. Select project format and name your book choice. 2. Prepare for your project: research, gather images, interview, etc.
Remember to search for copyright-free or Creative Commons licensed images. With your parents' permission, you can use these search engines with filters:
Photo Credits should include: Photographer, "Title," Date, URL.
Other resources should be named and listed fully. The format varies, but in general you should name your sources as you mention them (author, title, website), link to a URL, and provide any other information about the source that you think is important -- sometimes the date, sometimes the sponsor of the website, etc.
3. Save resource information on a Word document. You will need this in order to credit your sources. 4. Begin drafting your 50+ words: What is the information you need to share with others about your reading experience and the book you want them to read?
Dos and Don'ts of Informational Writing Do not refer to yourself or use the words I, my, mine, etc. Do make your presentation of information objective. Do not write in vague, abstract language. Do write by providing concrete facts and details; always include the basics: who, what, when, where, how, why.
Do not present facts randomly.
Do present your information in an organized fashion, based on your focus, purpose, or angle.
Do not merely summarize the plot of the book.
Do research provide additional information and images, based on your angle or focus. (This can include interviews and direct quotations, for example.)
Do not present your information in a dry, uninteresting way.
Do think about an inviting lead, as well as ways to interest your reader throughout your presentation of information.
Don't lump everything together all in one or two paragraphs; do organize your presentation in a way that makes sense, based on your focus, purpose, or angle.
Don't fill up the page with mindless repetition, vague statements, or meaningless images; do include description, detail, and images that convey your information in a meaningful way.
Do remember to include at least one copyright-free image or illustrations, in addition to an image of the book cover (two or more images total).
Newspapers: written in 2-3 columns, with a headline and byline (your first name). Photos or images should have a caption. Include references and links to sources as you mention them.
Collaborize: like a newspaper article, but written as a conversation.
Web Page: Think about what to include on your web page and how to organize it. Include links and sources. Present your information in a way that is visually appealing. Be sure to include a title and a byline (your first name). Save in Word as HTML or "web page."
HW: Study for vocabulary quiz, Wordskills, Unit 5
W (B) Vocabulary Quiz, Unit 5; continue work on project. HW: Independent reading; continue work on project as needed.
(A) Introductions, new concepts, clarifications
(B) Reading/discussion
(C) Quiz/Writing
(D) Reading/discussion
(E) Learning Teams/Collaborize (double period); vocabulary/grammar
(F) Learning Teams/Collaborize (double period); vocabulary/grammar
Weeks 1-2 (March 18-22)
M (A) Overview of quarter; return materials
Read: Gibson, The Miracle Worker; reading and performing dramatic works
Write: Informational Essay (Student Learning Teams project)
Selected videos from Digital Storytelling Projects
HW: Independent Reading
Note: You may want to start gathering basic information about your independent reading books (author, title, characters' names, basic plot elements, other important information).
T (B) Show: Digital Stories
Discuss: Digital Storytelling Project
Appeteaser: What did you learn from this digital storytelling project? How did it surprise you? What difficulties did you face, and how did you overcome them?
HW: Type and print out the following information about your two independent reading books: author, title, characters' names, basic plot elements, other important information. Make a proposal for how you would like to share your comments and suggestions about your reading with an audience who could most benefit from it.
W (C) Introduction to Informational Essay
Appeteaser: What is the best way to share factual information so that others can benefit from it? What kinds of strategies should writers think about when they communicate information? What would make you want to read an essay that conveyed information of interest to you?
Show Digital Stories
Discuss appeteaser, informational essay (examples)
Discuss options for sharing independent reading (practice information informational essay)
HW: Independent Reading
Th (D) Independent reading reports -- in-class project (options tba)
Appeteaser: What changes, if any, should be made to the way we structure the student learning teams?
Show Digital Stories
Discuss appeteaser
HW: Prepare reports for Student Learning Teams
F (E) 5A: Student Learning Teams: Prepare and present quarterly report -- successes, struggles, research needs, timeline and plans for Q4; 5B: Wordskills, Unit 5
HW: Wordskills, Unit 5 (5A to begin; 5B to complete).
Week 2 (March 25-28)
Note: All students who are working on games for their SLT project should bring a board game to Ms. Davis's classroom before school on Monday. If you do not have a board game, bring "fun stuff" (art supplies, magazines, anything that might be used in a game) in a ziplock bag with your name on it. We will have a "game hacking" session on Monday during Study Hall.
M (F) 5A: Complete and review Wordskills, Unit 5; 5B: Student Learning Teams: Prepare and present quarterly report -- successes, struggles, research needs, timeline and plans for Q4.
Review options for Independent Reading Projects: Web page, newspaper article, discussion forum in Collaborize,
1. Design a Web Page: In Microsoft Word, you can design a web page for your book. Include: Author, title, main characters, brief plot synopsis, and any other pertinent information that will attract readers. Use at least one image (in addition to the book cover) and at least 50 words of text aside from the author and title. Use design elements to engage your reader, enhance your presentation and organize your information about the book.
2. Write an informative, objective newspaper article about the book. Aside from the title, text should be at least 50 words long, but may be substantially longer; the article should also include at least one photo or illustration, in addition to the book cover. Include in the article all of the important information about the book: author title, main characters, brief plot synopsis, and any other information you think is important for readers to know. Enhance your article by interviewing other readers or providing interesting back stories. Be sure to reference all resources appropriately.
3. Participate in a "book talk" discussion forum in Collaborize about the book. Use factual information from the book, including cited quotations, as well as cited resources from outside the book to enhance your discussion. Share at least one visual (with appropriate credit) to illustrate your understanding. Comment on responses by other readers of the book to continue the conversation. All discussions must be at least 50 words.
4. Choose one of the other suggested formats in order to demonstrate your understanding of how to communicate information to an audience. All options must include basic information about the book, images, and at least 50 words of text.
HW: Review format options for Independent Reading Projects. Goal/Requirements: Convey important information about your book in an organized, clear, concise, and engaging way; include both images and at least 50 words of text. Choose a format, make a plan, and gather materials for your project.
T (A) Begin work on project.
Appeteaser: What do you need for your project to be successful? (In particular, think research.) What do you need to do in order to get started? (Keep in mind the goals of the project above.)
1. Select project format and name your book choice.
2. Prepare for your project: research, gather images, interview, etc.
Remember to search for copyright-free or Creative Commons licensed images. With your parents' permission, you can use these search engines with filters:
Behold (use “free to use” filter): http://www.behold.cc/
Compfight.com (using the filters for “Creative Commons” and “Safe": http://compfight.com/
Creative Commons Search: http://search.creativecommons.org/
Photo Credits should include:
Photographer, "Title," Date, URL.
Other resources should be named and listed fully. The format varies, but in general you should name your sources as you mention them (author, title, website), link to a URL, and provide any other information about the source that you think is important -- sometimes the date, sometimes the sponsor of the website, etc.
3. Save resource information on a Word document. You will need this in order to credit your sources.
4. Begin drafting your 50+ words: What is the information you need to share with others about your reading experience and the book you want them to read?
Dos and Don'ts of Informational Writing
Do not refer to yourself or use the words I, my, mine, etc.
Do make your presentation of information objective.
Do not write in vague, abstract language.
Do write by providing concrete facts and details; always include the basics: who, what, when, where, how, why.
Do not present facts randomly.
Do present your information in an organized fashion, based on your focus, purpose, or angle.
Do not merely summarize the plot of the book.
Do research provide additional information and images, based on your angle or focus. (This can include interviews and direct quotations, for example.)
Do not present your information in a dry, uninteresting way.
Do think about an inviting lead, as well as ways to interest your reader throughout your presentation of information.
Don't lump everything together all in one or two paragraphs; do organize your presentation in a way that makes sense, based on your focus, purpose, or angle.
Don't fill up the page with mindless repetition, vague statements, or meaningless images; do include description, detail, and images that convey your information in a meaningful way.
Do remember to include at least one copyright-free image or illustrations, in addition to an image of the book cover (two or more images total).
Newspapers: written in 2-3 columns, with a headline and byline (your first name). Photos or images should have a caption. Include references and links to sources as you mention them.
Collaborize: like a newspaper article, but written as a conversation.
Web Page: Think about what to include on your web page and how to organize it. Include links and sources. Present your information in a way that is visually appealing. Be sure to include a title and a byline (your first name). Save in Word as HTML or "web page."
HW: Study for vocabulary quiz, Wordskills, Unit 5
W (B) Vocabulary Quiz, Unit 5; continue work on project.
HW: Independent reading; continue work on project as needed.